Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/942936
By Dave Woods NWA Democrat-Gazette Rhonda Weidman always had a dream. "I had always done owers for J.B. Hunt and friends and on Valentine's Day and for anniversary events," she said. "I would do owers for my mother and her friends. People would say 'Oh Rhonda, you're so good. You should do this for a living.' I never had the guts to do it. I just wasn't bold enough to do it." en, Rhonda, who worked for J.B. Hunt for 25 years, had a life changing personal experience. "I lost my mom a year ago," she explained. "My husband said 'life is short and it's time to live out your dreams and own a ower shop.' My husband invested in me and we opened last April." Almost a year later, Rhonda is enjoying her new lease on life and the people she is meeting at Just Petaling, her Bella Vista ower shop. "It's been a lot of fun," she said. "It might sound strange to some people, but I love working on funeral arraignments. It is my greatest joy. It is the last time you are honoring your loved one publically. We love being here and serving the community and helping families that come in and don't know what to do. I've 'been there, done that' myself very recently. I know what to put together and have felt the emotions. It's great to be able to help families when they come in. " Getting involved in the community was a priority for Rhonda. Once she decided to follow her dream, she hasn't looked back. "We set our own prices and we are very reasonable," she said. "It's about building relationships and Bella Vista is the perfect place to do it. Kelly (Dostart) from Bank of the Ozarks came in and greeted us. We were brand new. e shop didn't even have décor' in it yet. I thought joining the Business Association would be a great way to get 'Important to shop local' Owner of new fl ower shop enjoying business in Bella Vista R Member Profile By Dave Woods NWA Democrat-Gazette When Todd Whatley graduated from college he became a physical therapist. He had no idea that his career would lead him down another professional path. "I was somewhat forced into working with the elderly in home health and nursing homes," he said. "I love the elderly client and physical therapy was a way to help them get back in shape and to enjoy their nal years. I enjoyed that as a therapist." Soon, Todd became complacent with his initial career choice. "I kind of was bored with physical therapy and decided to go to law school," he explained. " en I realized there is this entire specialty in law dedicated to the elderly client and their families." Soon he immersed himself in his new eld. "I jumped into it and fell in love with it," he said. "I love helping the elderly protect what they have worked for their entire lives; to make sure that their assets can pass to whomever they want as quickly and easily as possible." In elder law, Todd explained, there are many issues to take into account. "We work with the elderly or their families regarding estate planning and preplanning," he explained. "We work to make things go as cheaply and easily to the heirs as possible. We also work with families to make sure they can a ord the costs of getting older, speci cally home care, assisted living and long term care. We are very versed in Medicaid rules and Veterans' Administration rules to help clients get the care that they need and not go broke." With more than 20-years experience working in elder law, Todd has many professional achievements of which he is proud. One in particular. " e organization that maintains elder law certi cations is the e National Elder Law Foundation," Todd said. "It is based out of Arizona and has been operating for 25 years. ey train and certify attorneys who want to be specialists in elder law. Until June 1, I am the president of that organization." e Elder Law Practice of Elrod and Whatley 3214 Northwest Avignon Way Ste. B Bentonville AR, 72712 479-268-5680 'We work to make things go easily' Elder Law Practice dedicated to elderly client and their families W 10 – 2018 Bella Vista Business Association Directory